April 4, 2014 – Acting U.S. Surgeon General, Rear Admiral Boris Lushniak, issued a statement this week in support of National Asbestos Awareness Week 2014. This is the tenth consecutive year the United States Senate has adopted a national resolution giving the first week of April this special designation. Each year, events held throughout the nation during this week focus on how asbestos impacts health, the environment and the economy.
Reinforcing the intent of the annual resolution, the acting U.S. Surgeon General’s statements bolster the fact that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, and that asbestos causes deadly diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. Moreover, due to the long latency period of symptoms, the acting Surgeon General warns the public about the importance of safeguarding themselves from the lethal material.
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) has publicly applauded the acting U.S Surgeon General’s support of National Asbestos Awareness Week. The ADAO is a non-profit organization that spearheads the national week of recognition to educate the public about the dangers of asbestos exposure and diseases such as mesothelioma. The organization also advocates to abolish the use of asbestos in an effort to eradicate mesothelioma and protect the rights of victims. The large non-profit group also seeks to procure funding for research for a cure for asbestos-related diseases.
The ADAO will hold its Tenth Annual International Asbestos Awareness Conference on April 4 – 6, 2014, in Arlington, VA. At the annual conference, the ADAO will offer educational materials to inform the public about the continued predominance of asbestos-related diseases and give mesothelioma victims an opportunity to share their stories. Moreover, a large number of medical experts will present at the conference, including Dr. Lushniak.
To read the Acting U.S. Surgeon General’s full statement speaking out in support of National Asbestos Awareness Week, click here.